Diego Maradona is nearing the end of his tenure as Argentina manager after yesterday’s meeting with the Argentinian FA ended with president Julio Grondona reluctant to agree to the coach’s conditions to stay on.

Maradona has demanded that none of his staff is to be removed by the FA and that he would step down if even a strand of their hair was to be touched. The Argentinian football legend also insisted that an additional staff – Oscar Ruggeri – be included in the set-up moving forward.

However, all of Maradona’s demands have been turned down by Grondona who regards them as ceding all control to the volatile coach who has yet to truly prove his tactical acumen on the pitch despite leading Argentina to the quarterfinals in the recent 2010 World Cup finals.

The AFA are eager to put in a restructing plan for the current setup but Maradona is unwilling to accept the idea.

There has been no further comment from both the AFA and Maradona’s camp although it is understood that one more meeting will be held on Tuesday by Grondona and an Executive Committee to draw a line under the episode. It is understood from Argentine daily Olé that neither party is expecting to extend their partnership for a further period.

If Maradona does go, Sergio Batista – coach of the South Americans’ Under-20 squad – is likely to succeed him as the manager, at least for Argentina’s next friendly against the Republic of Ireland next month.

Tags: AFA, Argentina, Diego Maradona, Sergio Batista, World Cup